GPS Mounting w/ Ball Joint

[articulate]

Fellas:
I want a GPS mount that has a ball joint for multiple axis adjustment. Does such an animal exist?

I have this GPS (Garmin 76s):

With this mount:

The mount is limited to swiveling, and to tilting. I want to change the mount location and thought a ball joint would be ideal so I wouldn't have to fab/shim this mount to make it work on a vertical plane.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[cshontz]

Mark,
Check this page on GPS City - it might be along the lines of what you're looking for, and from there you can piece together your mount.

http://www.gpscity.com/ram-snap-ball-parts.htm
Retail link may expire over time.

EDIT: Come to think of it, most RAM mounts use ball and socket hardware. The components in the link above are able to move freely while other RAM components require you to tighten the clamping arms into the position of your choice, which would be better for off-highway applications. In any case, what you're looking for is almost certainly a RAM product.

 

[articulate]

Excellent find! Thanks Chris. Yes, I found a great selection of heavy duty mounts with ball joints. Thanks!

I've never heard of RAM before, but they have exactly what I need. I owe you one.

Gracias,
Mark

Edit: For the record, they list at least 30 mounts for my particular GPS unti here: http://www.gpscity.com/item-ram-mount-garmin-gps-72-76-and-gpsmap-76-76s-cradle/ramholga6.htm

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

I have a RAM unit for my 276c (which is quite heavy) with a suction cup on it that i use when i drive my girlfriends Honda or any other car without a semi permanent mount. Works awesome and the adjustability is great!

My .02

 

[cshontz]

I'm a RAM junkie, or a RAM-a-holic if you will. I use 'em for both my iPod and my GPS. Just plopped down another 30 today for more components. Its like LEGO meets mounting-stuff-in-your-whip. lol

Did I just say "whip"?

 

[Mlachica]

I have a RAM unit for my 276c (which is quite heavy) with a suction cup on it that i use when i drive my girlfriends Honda or any other car without a semi permanent mount. Works awesome and the adjustability is great!

My .02

I have the same setup Mark, I have no complaints. The only times its come off of the winsheild was when there were quick extreme temp changes. For example when I went to Big Bear this last winter it was cold and crispy while driving, then I parked towards the sun and it baked the cab of the truck - when I returned to my truck is when I found it laying on the dash. Other than moments like that it's survived miles of washboards and woop de doos, I've also jumped the truck on the whoops and it hasn't budged.

I do let the gps rest on the dash which helps A LOT with vibrations. I can post pics of the mount if interested.

 

[articulate]

I have the same setup Mark, I have no complaints. The only times its come off of the winsheild was when there were quick extreme temp changes. For example when I went to Big Bear this last winter it was cold and crispy while driving, then I parked towards the sun and it baked the cab of the truck - when I returned to my truck is when I found it laying on the dash. Other than moments like that it's survived miles of washboards and woop de doos, I've also jumped the truck on the whoops and it hasn't budged.

I do let the gps rest on the dash which helps A LOT with vibrations. I can post pics of the mount if interested.

Share some a picture or two if you have them.

I'm shooting for a bolt-in-place method rather than the suction cup dealybob. I'm bringing the unit down onto the "face" of the dashboard next to the radio; I've got to mount the plate in a vertical position and drill some holes in the dash plastic. It should be really cool.

What precipitated this was the screen on my unit heating up in the sun while on top of the dash under the windsheild. It becomes hard to read with the direct sunlight. So, I'm moving it down into the shade of the cab and adding an external antenna.

:rockon:

I read Shontz's thread this morning and saw his cool antenna. I'm-a-gonna git me one 'a them.

 

[BajaXplorer]

I also have a 276c and it attaches to a 1" ball on the screw down base which is attached to top of dash by mollybolts. The base is covered by my dashmat which has a small hole for the ball to extend through. I frequently cover all but the face of it with a Guinness bar towel because of the sun and heat here in AZ. The towel extended over the face also keeps the sun from washing out the screen. The 276c is IMO the best all around GPSR out there at present. And if you have a boat with the sonar unit you also have a great fishfinder.
BX

 

[paulj]

I'm shooting for a bolt-in-place method rather than the suction cup dealybob. I'm bringing the unit down onto the "face" of the dashboard next to the radio; I've got to mount the plate in a vertical position and drill some holes in the dash plastic. It should be really cool.

I removed the bezel from around the radio, and made a bracket from angle aluminum that uses the same screws as the radio (with nylon spacers). The RAM ball base is screwed to this bracket. With a 6" RAM mount, I can position my Ifinder gps close to the steering wheel for visibility, or partly on to the dash for better reception.

At least with my older unit, postion is compromise between visibility and reception (particularly in mountain valleys). An external antenna would make positioning easier, but Lowrance wants $90 for one.

paulj

 

[flyingwil]

How about a mount like this? I just saw this in my dealer catolog...

 

[articulate]

How about a mount like this? I just saw this in my dealer catolog...

That's the mount I already have - minus the sand bag. Where it sits on my dash, the GPS gets hard sunlight exposure. Thus, I'm moving the GPS. But that mounting solution won't work very well for the place I have in mind. Here is what I bought yesterday, thanks to Mr. Shontz:
Double ball socket mount:

That connects to this GPS cradle:

And then one of these nice antennas:

:rockon:

 

[Mlachica]

Here's the only picture I had available...I have some pictures of just the mount, I'll dig those out for you.

If you want specific pics I can take some...

*edit* After I posted this I saw that you already bought one...oops, sorry I'm late! *edit*

 

[flyingwil]

Mark, Shoot me a PM and I am unsure of what you are looking for.